Top 10 Albums of the Noughties

Exactly what the name dictates; no ‘best of’ albums, no compilations and no TV or film soundtracks/scores are allowed. 100 words or less on each album. I know, not exactly about film and TV... Now to start.

Honourable Mentions; 

• Turn on the Bright Lights,
• The Glow pt. 2,
• Crystal Castles,
• All Godspeed you Black Emperor albums

10. Broken Social Scene – Broken Social Scene

BSS’s best album may have just missed the cut off having appeared in 2010 (Forgiveness Rock Record), but this is still a stunning piece of work. Drew and Canning’s lyrics are delightfully complex, occasionally dark and profound, but also witty and humourous at times. Perhaps the album which defines their ‘sound’ most; the reverberated guitar and melancholic voices reeks of Sonic Youth, but there is something wonderfully eccentric and inspirational about their music, as opposed to Sonic’s less enthusiastic (to say the least) attitude. Swimmers and Fire Eye’d Boy are personal favourites. Very underrated, both the band, and the album.

9. For Emma, Forever Ago – Bon Iver

A more predictable choice, but really quite an inevitable one. Skinny Love is rightfully hailed as one of the finest love songs of the decade, but Flume and RE: Stacks are equally superb, and, in fact, Lump Sum might just be my favourite of the bunch. The guitar and lyrics are just superb; ‘In my arbour till my ardour trumped every inner inertia,’ is an inspired line. Although not technically a flaw, I did find it quite short and perhaps the album never reaches the dizzying heights of some further up the list, but it’s consistently excellent and thoroughly engaging.

8. Kingdom of Rust – Doves
 

I’ve always found it difficult to label The Doves. Equally alternative, prog-rock and punk, they certainly defy genre. What is definite is their status as one of the most brilliant rock bands of our generation. And this might well be their masterpiece. The epic, yet haunting, title track is an acknowledged classic, as are the likes of Winter Hill and Jetstream. I love The Outsiders though. The rhythm guitar, bass and percussion are sensational, and it’s one of their ‘punkier’ offerings. A band with plenty of variety, and plenty of quality.

7. The XX- The XX

The finest ‘easy listening’ album of the decade. The interplay between the instruments and the voices of Smith and Madley Croft is seamless and perfectly substantiates each other. Every song is relaxing and soothing, but retaining poignancy and originality in the process. They’re hardly vacuous. To describe it as beautifully moving would be a dangerous understatement; the romantic, yet angsty, lyrics, almost exclusively about sex and love, are heartbreakingly honest. Crystallised, Shelter and Islands rightfully have their plaudits, but Stars is their finest song. So very simple, quiet almost, yet so very, very powerful.

6. Funeral – Arcade Fire

Very probably my favourite ever ‘indie’ album. Arcade Fire are the voice of the generation in-between ‘Generation X’ and the Ipad generation; a group of people caught up in the clash of post-modernism and post post-modernism, screaming out in misunderstanding and anger. Win Butler may not be the best singer, but the passionate range of emotions evident in his voice is awe-inspiring. A work stripping the artificial pointlessness of modern society to the core. Wake Up, Rebellion (Lies), Neighbourhood 3 (Power on) and In the Backseat are particularly fantastic. They’re amazing live too.

5. Boxer – The National

The modern masters of alternative rock, they use piano and violins as main instruments, along with the more traditional choices, rather than using them as gimmicks in some half-hearted attempt at originality. Much like Doves, The National can do almost anything. Ranging from the slower, more touching and contemplative tracks (Fake Empire, Start a War) to percussion and guitar heavy anthems (Apartment Story, Squalor Victoria). Boxer is an incredibly clever and varied album. The song, Slow Show, also has my favourite ever lyric; ‘You know I dreamed about you; for 29 years before I saw you.’

4. Kid A – Radiohead

The first of 2 Radiohead albums on the list. (it was inevitable) Kid A was the album in which Radiohead showed that their mind-blowing genius was not limited to rock. They dabbled in electronica, and it paid off. Extremely original at the time, it still had the unique ‘Head feel, best displayed in their outstandingly odd lyrics. The National Anthem is possibly the most badass song ever written, Idioteque, the most disturbing, and Motion Picture Soundtrack, the most heartbreaking. Radiohead are commonly criticised as being pretentious. You are only pretentious when you don’t match your own hype. Radiohead exceed it.

3. Ghosts of the Great Highway – Sun Kil Moon

I’m going to go out on a limb here; Mark Kozalek’s ambitious project, Sun Kil Moon, is the most underappreciated band since The Smashing Pumpkins, maybe of all-time. He is certainly the best folk singer-songwriter I’ve heard and this is his best album. The weird thing is; neither his lyrics, nor his music, are all that ground-breaking. They do, however, work perfectly.  Every song is just so atmospheric, dark and intense, yet also extremely thought-provoking, and somehow, even beautiful. Carry me Ohio is one of my favourite songs, and Gentle Moon nearly had me in tears. Masterpiece.

2. ...Is a Real Boy – Say Anything

I’m not a fan of grunge/college rock. I hate bands like Blink 182, Green Day and Sum 41. Say Anything are different though. There is a wonderfully angsty, hate-filled quality to them, as if they despise everything ever other grunge band pretends to stand for. Not as much as they hate hipsters though; one must listen to Admit it! to fully realise this. Incredible song. Max Bemis is my favourite lyricist. I can’t even articulate why, just listen to the words he aggressively spews into the microphone, then you’ll understand. Also, Alive with the Glory of Love.

1. In Rainbows – Radiohead

All 10 individual songs are great in their own right, but together, as a single piece of work, it’s staggeringly good. Bodysnatchers has the best transition I’ve heard in any song, is just brilliantly insane anyways, and All I Need is maybe Radiohead’s greatest love song. Videotape is the best song ever written about death and the afterlife, while Jigsaw Falling into Place is also excellent. The highlight, however, is Reckoner. The best song I’ve ever heard; it’s ridiculously ambitious, yet completely flawless. The guitar and percussion defy hyperbole. Genius. No other term can suitably describe it.